Billy Graham Library: Attendance up after 2018 death of its namesake

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Billy Graham Library in North Carolina says it has seen a surge in visitors in the year since its namesake's death.

Citing a blog post on the library's website, WLOS-TV reported that 214,000 people visited the Charlotte complex in 2018, up from 144,000 in 2017. According to the post, visitors came from 55 countries.

Graham died Feb. 21, 2018, at age 99. He's credited with transforming American religious life through his preaching and activism, becoming a counselor to presidents and the most widely heard Christian evangelist in history.

He's buried on the grounds of the library, alongside his wife, Ruth, in the prayer garden. The library was dedicated in 2007.